apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Envirosax.

I have the CYMA bags and love them. They hold a ton and - the deciding factor for me - have a flat bottom and sit open for easy loading and unloading. I got the olive and orange ones, they're very attractive.

All those compact nylon or polyester bags are, well, made of nylon or polyester. Organic, sustainably- and ethically-produced cotton would be superior, sure, but I intend to use these bags for a very long time, and they seem tough enough to make that possible.

I just love my Chico Bags. They are the size of regular grocery bags, so they don't freak out the cashiers who don't understand BYOB (that happens a lot here in Kentucky) but hold more because they're stronger. Plus, they are equipped with attached stuff sacks.
http://store.chicobag.com/

I have both Envirosax and Chico Bags, and usually keep at least one of each in my purse. Envirosax are HUGE, but you have to be careful about loading boxes in there - I've punctured a few holes, but I just repair them. The Chico Bags are smaller, but so much easier to re-compact. (I think I just made up a word.) Stuff it in the bag and you're done. Envirosax require some origami skills.

I did a little review of them a while back: http://lloydandlauren.com/?p=1158

I'm trying very hard to resist buying some RuMe bags or those awesome Baggu bags! (It's not environmentally responsible if I have a hundred reusable bags.)

I haven't used them myself, but just read an interesting review on Olive's Smart Sack sets (read about it on today's posting at http://www.coolmompicks.com/). What I like about this brand is that a set of six of them pack together, so you have enough for a full load of groceries.

Life goggles made a comparison chart a while back -- here is the link. His basic finding was that they are all basically made in China, so buy what you like and take comfort in knowing that at least you aren't wasting plastic or trees!

Personally, I love my chico bags, which appear very similar to the baggu bags and are probably equally convenient. We've had our chicos for nearly two years and they get weekly usage and they still look basically brand new.

I crocheted my own from cotton I bought at a thrift store. Handmade with reclaimed materials. Mine are greener than anyone elses. Bwa ha ha ha ha! Bwa ha ha ha ha! Bwa ha ha ha... sorry, I'm doing it again.

Seriously, though, I agree that the biggest step is to stop using disposables.

ACME Workhorse reusable shopping bags are my favourite!

http://www.reusablebags.com/store/acme-bags™-workhorse-style-1500-p-1.html

Bag the Habit: www.bagthehabit.com

1) Durable
2) Affordable
3) Reduce, reuse, recycle

The Baggu work great and hold lots as promised on their site. The colors are great and I've enjoyed removing mountains of plastic bags from my life. I keep them in the car (Prius ftw!) so they are always available.

The only problem I've found with the reusable bags is that people will steal them out from under your nose. So hold on to them if you are shopping and they are empty!

I LOVE my Envirosax (Envirosaxes?)! I have the set of 5 that come in a closeable pouch. I put the whole pouch in my purse when I got to the store (I have a big purse), so I can load all of my groceries in the set (I only go to the store maybe once every 3 weeks, so I buy a lot of groceries). You can take one or two out of the set to use when you need a tote bag for other random stuff or to take when traveling, in case you might need an extra bag for those (environmentally friendly) souvenirs you pick up on your trip. Plus, they are super cute, which is always a bonus. When I use them at the store, someone always asks where I got them.

I recently bought a Baggu to keep in my purse (I kept forgetting the others in the car) and I love it and it "re-compacts" easily. We have some plain canvas bags for our big shopping runs on the weekend and some made out of old T-shirts - check out www.morsbags.com - for easy instructions to make your own.

I have three Baggu bags and love them! They fold up compactly to fit in your purse, and are generally handy for hauling things around. They are very strong and hold quite a bit. Plus, they look great and come in great colors!

I'm crazy about earthwise bags. They're readily available at grocery stores, have a removable plastic bottom to give the bags structure, and are only a dollar each. I have about 10 and I love them. www.earthwisebags.com

I'm very happy with my Baggu's. The checkers and baggers ask me all the time where I got them and have said they are the best looking ones they've seen. They hold a ton, are light-weight, easy to shove in your purse, and comfortable to carry.

When I decided to commit to reusable bags, I just looked around the house and grabbed all the tote bags I've bought over the years, and took them out to the car. Anybody that's been to a few conferences has a stash, I bet. I mean, they don't *match* and they don't stuff into their own cute little pouches, but it works for me. When I empty a bag, I hang it on a hook by the door and take it back out to the car next time I leave the house.

I use Chico Bags and Baggu bags. If I don't use really small ones that fit into my purse, then I forget to take them with me! I use the bags Wegmans sells when I go grocery shopping. I just keep them in my car.

I dunno..I got a free AddressTheMess.com one at Summer Stage and i LOVE it, but I guess really it's the same concept as the Chico Bags. It's always attached to my purse with a carabiner and I've stopped being embarrassed when I say "No bag please" and the clerks roll their eyes. Now if I can just commit to replacing paper towels with cloth napkins I'll be SEW happy. :-)

I use RuMe bags, they are fantastic! They have cute patterns/colors, I always get a compliment when I use them. They roll up and fit easily in my purse and are a true tote, they have a square bottom so everything stays neat and organized in the bag.

I haven't seen a bag out there that compares to RuMe. I found them on Delight.com, check it out!